Kilauea Volcano Erupts for 31st Time in Ongoing Series Since December

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano resumed erupting Friday, shooting lava some 30 meters into the air and across its summit crater floor in the 31st eruption since December, officials said.

The eruption began in the morning with continuous spattering from a north vent inside Halemaumau Crater, later overflowing and producing lava fountains. The activity remains confined to the crater, posing no immediate threat to homes, though visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park had a clear view of the spectacle.

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said magma continues to rise through a well-worn pathway beneath the crater, fueling repeated bursts. Such fountain episodes have occurred only a handful of times in the last two centuries, most notably during eruptions in 1959, 1969, and the decades-long event that began in 1983.

Researchers cannot predict how long the latest eruption will last. It could peter out at the summit or shift to lower vents, as happened in 1983, when lava flows persisted for more than 30 years.

For Native Hawaiians, Kilauea carries deep cultural meaning as the home of the volcano goddess Pele. Community leaders say each eruption is both a natural hazard and a vital reminder of traditions linking lava to the creation of land and the continuation of life on Hawaii Island.

Park officials urged visitors to stay on marked trails and heed safety alerts, noting that past episodes have lasted only hours. Volcanic gas, ash, and unstable terrain remain hazards even for those viewing from a distance.